Pre-recorded alarm-reporting system and control element therefor

ABSTRACT

In response to an alarm detector element a tape player coupled to a conventional telephone line generates pulses which serve to call an appropriate authority and provide a prerecorded audible alarm report message followed by request that the authority confirm the authenticity of the report by returning the call within a predetermined period thereafter. If the called authority returns the call within the predetermined period, the tape player then calls additional parties and makes appropriate reports to such parties. By returning the call, controls are activated which serve to inhibit the repetitious further repeat calling of the same alarm report call. Ultimately, in the event that no called party calls back to verify receipt of a call from the tape player, a signal is generated which activates a local audible alarm proximate to the premises being protected.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Thomas M. Lott 55 W. Santa Inez Ave, San Mateo. Calll. 94402 [21] Appl No 772.536 [22] Filed Nov. I [968 [45] Patented Aug. 10, I97] I54] PIKE-RECORDED ALARM-REPORTING SYSTEM AND CONTROL ELEMENT THEREFOR ll Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl I79/5P [5|] lnt.Cl ..H04|nll/04 [50) Field ol Search. 179/5 P. 5; 340/l64. 2131. 326

I56 I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,38 l ,092 4/I968 McEwen et al. l79/5 3,5l L933 5/l970 Holmes l79/5 3,287,500 1 1/1966 Moore.... 179/5 P 3,427,402 2/1969 Stokes l79/5 P I i nab REPEAT RE FEAT I.

Assistant Examiner-David L. Stewart Attorney-Flehr. Hohbach. Test, Albritton 84 Herbert ABSTRACT: In response to an alarm detector element a tape player coupled to a conventional telephone line generates pulses which serve to call an appropriate authority and provide a prerecorded audible alarm report message followed by request that the authority confirm the authenticity of the report by returning the call within a predetermined period thereafter. If the called authority returns the call within the predetermined period, the tape player then calls additional parties and makes appropriate reports to such parties. By returning the call, controls are activated which serve to inhibit the repetitious further repeat calling of the same alarm report call. Ultimately, in the event that no called party calls back to verify receipt of a call from the tape player, a signal is generated which activates a local audible alarm proximate to the premises being protected.

can Put-or CALL 5 u i Ntlontol HIE-RECORDED ALARM-REPORTING SYSTEM AND CONTROL ELEMENT THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to alarm systems of a type employing means for transmitting prerecorded alarm report messages to a called party such as an appropriate local authority. The invention also pertains to a control element for operating such an alarm system. The system, disclosed herein, is particularly useful in providing a burglar alarm system, fire alarm system, vandalism alarm system or other types of alarms, as desired, wherein a predetermined condition serves to activate the system.

Heretofore, alarm systems of the above type have been provided with means for generating a prerecorded alarm report message to an appropriate local authority, such as the police, but these systems have been subject to one or more shortcomings. For example, prior systems have provided no means for permitting verification by the authority receiving the call of the authenticity of the incoming alarm report call. Further, many of these systems have employed means for repetitively transmitting the alarm to an appropriate authority with no means at hand for the called authority to discontinue the repetitious receipt of the same alarm message. Thus, after the emergency is initially reported, these alarm systems serve to congest a switchboard or other communication system employed by the receiving authority, and the receiving authority has no means to inhibit further receipt of the alarm of which they have already been appraised. Many systems of the kind described above depend upon use of conventional telephone lines and to this extent have been subject to total debilitation merely by cutting the telephone connections leading into the premises being protected.

Also, heretofore, if the prerecorded call to the police should fail for any reason, no further alarm report is likely to be made. For example, upon failure to reach the police (or other authority), the telephone operator can, by the system disclosed herein, be contacted and requested to make the call.

One aspect of the system involves the problem that the telephone line may have been cut by a burglar or other vandal or destroyed by fire before setting off the alarm system. In this instance, all of the prerecorded announcement messages which would have otherwise been sent to the proper agencies of the Government will be nullified. Therefore, it becomes an objective of this invention, at least to sound a local alarm in an effort to either frighten the vandal or burglar or to draw attention to a fire which may exist.

OBJECTS In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved prerecorded alarm message-reporting system overcoming the foregoing and other objectionable limitations of prior systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present alarm system, in general, relies upon means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, such as conventional fire alarm detectors or burglar alarm detectors or other types of sensors which respond to a predetermined condition and provide an alert or signal indicating the existence of such condition. The signal in the present instance provides a momentary ground connection. This of course, could be a permanent ground connection, ifdesired.

In general, the system employs transmitting means responsive to the detection of the condition to be reported and which also serves to transmit a prerecorded message to a predeter mined called party or suitable person in authority having an appropriate relationship to the condition to be reported. Thus, the prerecorded message of the system which pertains to a burglar alert signal is appropriately reported to the police station while fire-detecting alert signals are reported to the fire department. Control means are further provided which operate the transmitting means in response to receipt of a reply signal developed by a reply call originated by the called party so as to condition the transmitting means to transmit a different prerecorded message to the called party. The different message preferably will be a verification message, indicating that the called party has reached the proper number originating the alamt report.

In addition, receipt of the reply signal by the control means serves further to inhibit the repetitive transmission of the prerecorded alarm message.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a schematic diagram showing the system, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram disclosing the nature of the prerecorded information carried by a pliable tape record employed as a control element in the system, according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram showing a preferred system, according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for a reply call responsive arrangement, according to another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An alarm system according to the invention is shown schematically, in general, in FIG. I. The system I0 relies upon conventional means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, such as for example, the sensors of a type which provide a momentary electrical grounding of a line to produce a control signal. Sensors ll, 12 and [3 are shown and respectively represent a burglar alarm, a fire alarm, or other alarm.

The alarm system It] as disclosed herein preferably cooperates with conventional telephone company lines I6 and equipment [7 but can be adapted to be employed in conjunction with other systems of communication.

In general, the alarm system It) employs transmitting means in the form of a tape transport apparatus 14 of a type capable of playing a plurality of prerecorded tracks or channels of information signals and for transmitting these signals to a communication system characterized by the telephone line [6 and box I7. Box 17 represents conventional telephone communication switching equipment of a type responsive to receipt of dial telephone input signals for making line connection to one of the called parties l8, 19, 20. The communication system is capable of transmitting and receiving messages as generally represented by the telephone transmitter/receiver (transceiver means) 43 (FIG. 1

Tape transport apparatus I4 is of a conventional type suitable for cyclically playing a tape prepared with prerecorded information. As shown in FIG. I, a tape cartridge 2! containing a roll of tape 22 wrapped in an endless loop fashion whereby the tape filament 23 may be withdrawn from the central hub portion of roll 22, led out of cartridge 21 to pass along one end of the cartridge past a transducer head assembly 24 equipped with a number of laterally disposed reproducing head ele ments (not shown) for cooperation with associated tracks of recorded information on tape 23. Tape 23 is moved by engagement between a pinch roller 26 and a capstan 27 thereby advancing the tape 23 in the direction of arrow 28. Thus, by compressing capstan 27 against the stationary pinch roller 26, tape 23 will advance in a cyclic manner to repetitively present the program recorded thereon to the reproducing head assembly 24.

Means for activating capstan 27 in order to compress same against pinch roller 26 and thereby drive the tape includes the solenoid or relay 29 which becomes energized upon closure of the switch armature 3| connected to a suitable power supply in response to sensing an alarm condition as described more fully below. A drive motor 36, mechanically coupled to drive capstan 27, is similarly coupled via a switch armature 37 also connected to a suitable power supply at such times.

The selected output from transducer head assembly 24 is fed via output lines 32 to the amplifying and reproducing circuitry 33 of a type normally found in tape players.

Circuitry 33 is normally inactivated and becomes energized upon closure ofa switch armature 34 which is also coupled to a suitable power supply in response to sensing an alarm condition.

As noted above, tape 23 has been prepared with a number of prerecorded channels of information of a type as now to be described with respect to FIG. 2 which diagrammatically represents tape filament 23 to be fed in the direction shown by arrow 28'.

Thus, tape filament 23 includes a first channel 38 prepared with prerecorded control signals, such as dialing signals 39, which, when transmitted along output line 16 to equipment 17, serve to make connection with an appropriate called party, such as the police represented by called party [8.

In advance of control signals 39 (FIG. 2), a short period ofa SOOO-cycle tone, 50, is recorded followed by a short period of silence. As is known, this causes an on-hook" condition on the line 16 to exist followed by an off-hook condition and a dial tone, all in known manner. Thus, the (on-hook) 5000- cycle recorded tone can be considered an on-hook" signal and the short period of silence thereafter considered an offhook" signal. As is further known, such action serves to clear the line of any attempt to preempt the line 16 by outsiders hoping to preclude functioning of the system. It also readies the circuit to receive the outgoing control or dialing pulses 39 which follow immediately.

The first prerecorded portion 41 of channel 38 further includes a prerecorded alarm report message 42 of a type constituting prerecorded electrical signal representations reproducible as an audible alarm report message preferably carrying information such as the location of the premises being protected. The message should terminate with a request that the called party verify the report by dialing the telephone number associated with the premises, such as that of telephone 43, and with the further request that such verification reply call be placed within a predetermined period following the conclusion (or other starting point) of the alarm report message.

Thus, channel 38 further includes a prerecorded signal 44 of predetermined duration, such as 30 seconds, which (when reproduced and played on telephone line 16) serves to provide a so-called on-hook" signal capable of indicating to conventional telephone communication equipment 17 that telephone 43 is not in use and is ready to receive calls.

Accordingly, in FIG. 1, the foregoing action is schematically represented by an inhibit function or means shown as line 46 which normally acts to inhibit incoming conventional dialed reply pulses arriving via telephone line 16 and line 47 which would otherwise operate head selector mechanism 48. Inhibit means 46 responds to the reproduction of the prerecorded on-hook" signal 44 to permit the gating of incoming reply dial signals appearing on telephone line 16 and incoming line 47 to thereby operate head selection mechanism 48 to cause transducer head assembly 24 to switch and activate another transducer to cooperate with a second channel such as channel 49 and to deactivate the first transducer from reproducing its associated track 38.

Channel 49 serves to provide a confirmatory audio report to persons dialing the telephone number of telephone 43, located at the premises, so as to provide them with additional informa tion or instructions.

Thus, as soon as tape transport apparatus l4 commences playing the confirming truck 49 the prerecorded electrical signal representations constituting a confirmatory message will be repeated and transmitted on telephone line [6 for listening by the culled party. It will, therefore, be readily evident that by switching from channel 38 to reproduce channel 49 the further repetitious placing of calls to party I8, such as the fire department or police, will have been inhibited by the reply call from the called party in confirming the origination of the alarm report message.

Upon sensing the predetermined condition for which sensors l 1, l2 13 have been provided, a signal will appear on one of the lines 52, 53, 54 respectively. This signal is picked up by a switch operator 56, such as a relay or solenoid device, which serves to close switch armatures 31, 34, 37 respectively and thereby initiate operation of drive motor 36, capstan 27 and energization of the electronic circuitry 33 of transport apparatus 14. Upon activation of operator 56, suitable connections 57, 58 serve to operate a latching circuit 59 so as to maintain operator 56 energized and tape transport apparatus 14 in an active condition until its tape 23 has been fully played.

As explained more fully below, at the end of a complete playing of tape filament 23, there is provided a means, such as a short length of electrically conductive foil, serving to generate a release signal via a line, such as 61, to deenergize latching circuit 59 and upon release of latching circuit 59 operator 56 drops out so as to decouple drive motor 36, solenoid 29 and electronic circuitry 33 from their respective power supplies thereby terminating a cycle of operation.

Signals transduced from tape 23 are fed via line 32 and electronic circuitry 33 onto output line 35. Output line 35 may be suitably coupled into the telephone system by means of known alarm coupler devices, such as 40, whereby the output line 35 feeds onto telephone line 16.

From inspection of FIG. 2, it will be readily apparent that tape 23 contains a first repetition and a second repetition of the alarm report message and then in the event that the head selector 48 has not yet been switched whereby channel 49 is to be played, signals 62 reproduced from channel 38 provide dialing signals serving to generate pulses on telephone line 16 appropriate to call the telephone operator. These dialing pulses 62 are followed by the transmission of an alarm report message represented by the prerecorded electrical signals 63 which, in turn, is followed by an "on-hook signal 64 to permit the operator to call back to the telephone number of telephone 43 at the premises and thereby obtain confirmation of the origin of the call.

In the event that the foregoing procedure shall have failed to cause the transducer head assembly 24 to switch to channel 49, it may reasonably be assumed that the telephone lines leading into the premises have been cut from outside the building.

Accordingly, in channel 38 there is then provided prerecorded electrical signal representations 66 which, when transduced by head assembly 24, are amplified by an amplifier 67 which is coupled to activate an audible alarm 68 located on the premises.

In the event that the telephone lines have not been cut, it is believed that there is a high likelihood that at least one of the prerecorded alarm report messages will have been transmitted to a called party and that the called party will have verified the call and thereby switched transducer assembly 24 to cooperate with channel 49.

Thus, following the initial reporting to the more important authorities, the program recorded on tape filament 23 in channel 49 continues to generate dialing pulses such as dialing pulses 71, 72, 73 to place calls to various interested parties, e.g., plant superintendent, neighbor, etc. Associated with each of these dialed call signals, a particular pertinent message is indicated in FIG. 2 by the prerecorded electrical signal representations 74, 75, 76 respectively.

Having the foregoing general arrangement in mind, the construction and functioning of the operating layout shown in FIG. 3 may be readily understood.

Similar reference numbers have been employed in FIG. 3 as employed in FIG. I where parts generally correspond, such as the sensors ll, l2, etc.

Referring to FIG. 3. and assuming a burglary has been detected by sensor I1 on the premises being protected, a momentary electrical grounding on sensor line 53 serves to operate relay 56 via line 55. Relay 56 locks into its energized state by virtue of the latching point and switch armature 82 connecting to line 119 grounded as explained below. At the same time, transducer 83 becomes connected to feed audio amplifier 84 via the closed contact points 86,87.

With respect to the latching point 90 contacted by switch armature 82 (and 107 for fire alarm portions of the system), it is apparent that if the point 90 is connected to ground, line 55 will energize relay 56. Similarly. line 100 when connected to ground serves to energize relay 108. Either of those two lines 55, 100 is momentarily connected to ground by one of sensors 11, 12, 13 and the relay in the line (56, 108) becomes latched in an energized state by providing a ground circuit through a transistor 112.

Thus, the system power supply 104 may be traced to line 109 via line 106 and connection 88 or 107 whereby to bias transistor 112 into conduction by the connection of base electrode 113 to a voltage divider comprised of resistors 114, 116. By thus driving transistor 112 into conduction, the path from the grounded emitter 117 to collector 118 becomes essentially a short circuit whereby line 119 is connected effectively to ground to make a point 90 equivalent to a ground point. This point then becomes a latching point and ground remains on one side of relay 56 whereas the other side is connected to power supply voltage.

Fire relay 108 is operated in a similar manner forming a latching point 121 grounded via lines 122, 119 when system power supply is coupled to line 109 upon the closure of armature 107, the latter being connected to power supply 104 via line 106.

Finally, unlatching of points 90, 121 is accomplished by the fact that on tape element 23, there is a predetermined length of conductive tape extending on the order of about an inch which serves to provide a short circuit across points 124, 126 so as to remove the bias which is maintaining transistor 112 in its conductive state. Thus, transistor 112 is taken out of conductive state. Thus, transistor 112 is taken out of conduction so that line 119 can return to its original potential and remove the voltage across relays 56, 108.

The manner in which the points 124, 126 become directly coupled through the metallic portion of tape 23 is simply that there are two spaced transducer heads (not shown) on tape transport apparatus 14 which contact the metallic surface. One of the two heads is insulated from ground (not shown) and upon being shorted, via the metallic strip on the tape, forms a ground connection across emitter 117 (FIG. 3) so as to ground out base electrode 113 whereby transistor 112 no longer sustains its conductive state.

Further, by energizing relay 56, transport apparatus 14 is activated. Power supply voltage on the order, for example, of 24 volts is connected to the circuit causing solenoid 29, drive motor 36 and amplifier 84 to operate from the power supply connection point 88 as to coupled to line 106.

Thus, motor 36 commences operation and capstan 27 is urged against pinch roller 26 to cause tape 23 to advance. As the tape commences to advance, relay 9], as now to be described, provides an "off-hook" condition on the phone line in order to clear the line of any attempt to preempt it by a burglar or vandal or other party and to place the line in readiness whereby the circuit for the outgoing dial pulses 39 will be clear to permit the called party to be reached.

As mentioned above the conventional telephone lines using an alarm coupler operated by a tone-keying circuit 110 can be cleared in known fashion by providing a short period of5000- cycle tone signals to the keying circuit 110 followed by a short period of silence whereby an on-hook condition is followed by an off-hook condition and dial tone.

The above line-clearing function is achieved herein by use of suitable known, conventional alarm coupler means 98 whereby an open circuit between leads 96, 97 serves to generate an on-hook" signal while a closed circuit between leads 96, 97 generates an off-hook" signal on telephone line 16. in the olT-hook condition the audio output and dialing control signals 39 are carried, via line 35 and coupler means 98, onto telephone line 16,

Thus, tape 23 is prerecorded to carry a short length or period 50 of a 5000-cycle signal immediately ahead of the first of the dialing signals 39. Thus, when reproduced, the signal is coupled via leads 65 or 70 to amplifier 84 and via lead 69 to operate relay 91.

A filter circuit 93 passes no other frequency signals whereby only signal 50 will operate a suitable known keying circuit to energize relay 91. As relay 91 is energized, armature 94 will open the connection between leads 96, 97 for the duration of signal 50. A spring (not shown) returns armature 94 to closed position upon terminating signal 50.

This serves to clear the line as above described. The 5000- cycle tone may also be recorded for a period on the order of 30 seconds duration at the end of the transmission of the prerecorded alarm message in order to provide an "on-hook condition during which time the called party can dial into telephone 43 located on the premises being protected.

Thus, for the period while armature 94 serves to open the connection between leads 96, 97 any incoming 20-cycle ringing tone appearing on telephone line 16 will also cause relay 99 to become energized via line 103 and so become latched continuously in an energized state.

This is accomplished by the "on-hook" signal 44 (or similar signal 92 for fire) recorded in one of the channels of tape 23. Signal 92 is of a predetermined frequency such as SOOO-cycles recorded on tape 23.

Hence, when transducer 83 reproduces signal 92, audio amplifier 84 serves to feed the amplified 5000 cycles via filter 93 to operate relay 91 for the period corresponding to on-hook" signal 92. By energizing relay 91, armature 94 opens the circuit between leads 96, 97 to generate an on-hook" signal on line 16. Thus, it is only during the existence of the "on-hook" signal on line 16 that a reply will be able to be received by the system. At that time, however, incoming ringing signals on line 16 of conventional type, such as the 20 cycle telephone signals which operate the telephone's usual bell, can be used to operate relay 10] whereby the reply by the called party generates a confirmation message.

Accordingly, when the called party responds promptly, the tape transport apparatus 14 will be switched to play a confirmation message to the caller as follows.

A suitable telephone company relay 101 of known type which responds to receipt of conventional telephone calling signals for normally ringing a remotely located telephone bell becomes activated by receipt of the reply call signals generated by the called party, e.g., the police, in reply to the prior report transmitted by transport apparatus 14. Thus, via line 102, relay 101 provides an output signal on line 103 to operate relay 99 by forming a momentary ground point to complete a circuit traced from power supply 104, via line 106, switch armature 107 (now closed by the holding action of relay 108), line 109, then to relay 99, and switch armature 111 held to a grounded point by the holding action of relay 99 itself.

Another arrangement for generating the output signal on line 103 is shown in H0. 4 having the advantage that direct connection to the telephone lines is not required, as this may be objectionable under some circumstances. Thus, a pair of telephone lines 77, 78 are arranged whereby one line 78 passes through a ferrite core 79. Signals, such as the twenty cycle incoming signals on lines 77, 78 developed by a reply call are sensed by the winding 81 and fed via a tuned amplifier 80 which amplifies and then rectifies the signal by means of the diode 120. Condenser 115 smooths the signal which is then fed via line 103 to momentarily operate relay 99.

The confirmation" relay 99, in energized state, serves to switch the transducer or head selector mechanism 48 (FIG. 1) whereby transducer or head assembly 24 will reproduce signals from a second track or channel prerecorded on tape element 23, such as channel 49 (FIG. 2). 2). Thus, the holding action of the circuit traced from power supply 104 through relay 99 latched to a ground point via its own holding armature 111 serves to ensure the continued playback from the second (or confirmation) message track 49 of tape 23.

It is to be understood that where a different type of alarm condition is sensed by another of sensors ll, l2, 13, channels of prerecorded signals on tape 23 will similarly be played and employed as control elements to operated the system.

Thus, it is apparent that relay 108 may be considered to be the fire sensing relay and relay 56 pertains generally to sensing burglary conditions.

Detection from the various sensors is mutually exclusive. Thus, when fire sensor 11 has operated relay 108, this action transfers switch armature 105 so as to open or inhibit the circuitry for operating relay 56. Relay 56 would otherwise serve to commence operations to report a burglary. This aspect of the system is advantageous, e.g., if a fire is detected and a fireman or a neighbor enters the building, the burglary alarm will not then be initiated and interfere with dialing the emergency fire call to the fire department Conversely, the reporting of a burglary should not normally be an occasion for calling out the fire department. This is guarded against by the presence of switch armature 85.

The present system may incorporate arrangements for directly initiating local alarms in the vicinity of the building or premises being protected in a manner acting directly and immediately in response to the severance to the telephone lines themselves.

One arrangement involves the use ofa 5500-cycle filter 127 directly coupled to a conventional tone-actuated circuit 95 coupled to operate the local alarm 68. Thus, when a prerecorded SSOO-cycle tone on tape 23 is received by circuit 95, the local alarm 68 will sound. Circuit 95 may be any suitable conventional circuit of a type responsive to receipt of a tone predetermined frequency and serving to provide an output signal to activate alarm 68.

Another arrangement for sounding a local alarm requires energization of the overall system as is done by a sensor ll, l2, 13 described elsewhere herein. Thus, whenever the entire system has been energized by virtue of the activity of one of the several types of sensors involved, there is provided a line voltage detector I28 energized by lead 129 and located in a manner whereby upon energizing the system 10, the energizing lead 129 serves to condition voltage detector 128 to sense changes in the voltage as they may appear on the telephone line itself. Thus, a voltage-sensing lead 131 extends from the telephone line 16 to voltage detector 128 for this purpose. Accordingly, the voltage detector thereby directly operates the local alarm 68 upon experiencing any untoward change in the line voltage.

lclaim:

I. In an alarm system ofa type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to call a predetermined party and immediately to transmit a prerecorded message to said predetermined called party and then to condition the transmitting means to an "on-hook" condition, means operative during a limited period following termination of said message and serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming verification call originated by said called party, said limited period being sufficient to accommodate dialing of said verification call by said called party, and control means coupled to operate said transmitting means and responsive to generation of said reply signal to cause said transmitting means to transmit a prerecorded confirmation message to said called party.

2. In an alarm system according to claim I further including means responsive to transmission of said prerecorded confirmation message to transmit at least one additional prerecorded message to another predetermined called party.

3. In an alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said conlrol means causes said transmitting means to transmit said confirmation message only in response to generation of said reply signal within a predetermined period following transmission of said prerecorded message.

4. In an alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes communication transceiver means and tape transport apparatus operably coupled to transmit via said transceiver means and having a tape record including a plurality of prerecorded tracks thereon, a first of said tracks being prepared with signals adapted to operate communication equipment to provide a connection from said tape transport apparatus to said called party and also prepared with recorded electrical signal representations reproducible audibly by said tape transport apparatus to provide the first named said message, a second of said tracks being prepared with recorded electrical signal representations serving to provide said different message.

5. In an alarm system according to claim 4 further including a local audible alarm means and wherein said first track further includes prerecorded control signals serving to operate said local alarm.

6. In an alarm system according to claim I wherein said transmitting means serves to repeat the transmission of the first named said message and said control means further serves to operate said transmitting means in response to receipt of said reply signal to inhibit transmission of said repeated message.

7. In an alarm system ofa type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to transmit repetitively a prerecorded message to a predetermined called party, means serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming call originated by said called party, and control means coupled to operate said transmitting means in response to said reply signal to cause said transmitting means to inhibit transmission of said repeated message, said control means further serving to originate a call to another called party promptly after inhibiting transmission of said repeated message.

8. In an alann system according to claim 7 further including an audible alarm located in the region of the premises to be protected, and wherein said control means serves, in the absence of receipt of a reply signal from said called party, cause said transmitting means to transmit another prerecorded message to another called party, and in the further absence of receipt of a reply signal, said transmmitting means serves to operate said audible alarm.

9. An alarm system to be operably coupled to a telephone line of a type employing dial-operated telephone equipment, said alarm system serving to protect premises from a predetermined condition, said alarm system comprising a detector for sensing said predetermined condition, a prerecorded tape player and a tape element associated therewith, said player being operably coupled to respond to said predetermined condition of said detector to commence playing a first track of the tape, said player being further operably coupled to said telephone line for transmitting via said line from said first track prerecorded communication control signals adapted to control communication means for making connection with an appropriate called party and a prerecorded alarm report message for transmission to said called party and a prerecorded on-hook signal of predetermined duration, at second track of said tape being prepared with a prerecorded confirmation message, switching means operably coupled to receive signals from said telephone line and serving to switch said player to transmit said confirmation message from said second track in response to receipt of a reply from said called party occurring within the duration of said on-hook signal.

10. An alarm system according to claim 9 further including an audible alarm locally disposed on the premises being protected and wherein said first track includes a repetition of said communication control signals and prerecorded alarm report message and "on-hook" signal, said first track being further prepared with prerecorded communication control signals for making connection with another called party and another prerecorded alarm report message and prerecorded onhook signal of predetermined duration, and said first track further being prepared with signals for operating said audible alarm, and means for transmitting the last named signals to operate said audible alarm in the absence of receipt of a reply from any of said called parties.

10 called party, said transmitting means further serving, in the absence of receipt of said reply signal, to transmit a prerecorded message to another called party subsequent to said predetermined number of transmissions of the first named call. 

1. In an alarm system of a type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to call a predetermined party and immediately to transmit a prerecorded message to said predetermined called party and then to condition the transmitting means to an ''''on-hook'''' condition, means operative during a limited period following termination of said message and serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming verification call originated by said called party, said limited period being sufficient to accommodate dialing of said verification call by said called party, and control means coupled to operate said transmitting means and responsive to generation of said reply signal to cause said transmitting means to transmit a prerecorded confirmation message to said called party.
 2. In an alarm system according to claim 1 further including means responsive to transmission of said prerecorded confirmation message to transmit at least one additional prerecorded message to another predetermined called party.
 3. In an alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said control means causes said transmitting means to transmit said confirmation message only in response to generation of said reply signal within a predetermined period following transmission of said prerecorded message.
 4. In an alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes communication transceiver means and tape transport apparatus operably coupled to transmit via said transceiver means and having a tape record including a plurality of prerecorded tracks thereon, a first of said tracks being prepared with signals adapted to operate communication equipment to provide a connection from said tape transport apparatus to said called party and also prepared with recorded electrical signal representations reproducible audibly by said tape transport apparatus to provide the first named said message, a second of said tracks being prepared with recorded electrical signal representations serving to provide said different message.
 5. In an alarm system according to claim 4 further including a local audible alarm means and wherein said first track further includes prerecorded control signals serving to operate said local alarm.
 6. In an alarm system according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting means serves to repeat the transmission of the first named said message and said control means further serves to operate said transmitting means in response to receipt of said reply signal to inhibit transmission of said repeated message.
 7. In an alarm system of a type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to transmit repetitively a prerecorded message to a predetermined called party, means serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming call originated by said called party, and control means coupled to operate said transmitting means in response to said reply signal to cause said transmitting means to inhibit transmission of said repeated message, said control means further serving to originate a call to another called party promptly after inhibiting transmission of said repeatEd message.
 8. In an alarm system according to claim 7 further including an audible alarm located in the region of the premises to be protected, and wherein said control means serves, in the absence of receipt of a reply signal from said called party, cause said transmitting means to transmit another prerecorded message to another called party, and in the further absence of receipt of a reply signal, said transmitting means serves to operate said audible alarm.
 9. An alarm system to be operably coupled to a telephone line of a type employing dial-operated telephone equipment, said alarm system serving to protect premises from a predetermined condition, said alarm system comprising a detector for sensing said predetermined condition, a prerecorded tape player and a tape element associated therewith, said player being operably coupled to respond to said predetermined condition of said detector to commence playing a first track of the tape, said player being further operably coupled to said telephone line for transmitting via said line from said first track prerecorded communication control signals adapted to control communication means for making connection with an appropriate called party and a prerecorded alarm report message for transmission to said called party and a prerecorded ''''on-hook'''' signal of predetermined duration, a second track of said tape being prepared with a prerecorded confirmation message, switching means operably coupled to receive signals from said telephone line and serving to switch said player to transmit said confirmation message from said second track in response to receipt of a reply from said called party occurring within the duration of said ''''on-hook'''' signal.
 10. An alarm system according to claim 9 further including an audible alarm locally disposed on the premises being protected and wherein said first track includes a repetition of said communication control signals and prerecorded alarm report message and ''''on-hook'''' signal, said first track being further prepared with prerecorded communication control signals for making connection with another called party and another prerecorded alarm report message and prerecorded ''''on-hook'''' signal of predetermined duration, and said first track further being prepared with signals for operating said audible alarm, and means for transmitting the last named signals to operate said audible alarm in the absence of receipt of a reply from any of said called parties.
 11. In an alarm system of a type having means for detecting a predetermined condition to be reported, the combination comprising transmitting means responsive to detection of the condition and serving to transmit a prerecorded message to a predetermined called party and to repeat said transmission a predetermined number of times, means serving to generate a reply signal in response to an incoming call originated by said called party, said transmitting means further serving, in the absence of receipt of said reply signal, to transmit a prerecorded message to another called party subsequent to said predetermined number of transmissions of the first named call. 